Virtuosity! Teacher Bios
Pam Block, Piano, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Harp, Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone Horn (euphonium), and Voice
Mrs. Block is a versatile musician and arranger/composer. She has been a church musician (piano/organ/worship/choir director) for many years, starting as church organist at age 12. She has taught private piano for 50 years and also teaches harp, voice, and several band instruments. She recently retired from public school education where she taught music, choir, and band for many years. Mrs. Block studied vocal performance, piano, saxophone, and arranging/composing at Olivet Nazarene University and MidAmerica Nazarene University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in music. She continued her education with master's classes in voice and education. For several years, Mrs. Block traveled on weekends, performing original songs and hymn arrangements in worship concerts at churches across the country. She has two CDs of piano, harp and vocal music, and provides harp, piano, organ or vocal music for special occasions. Mrs. Block is certified in harp therapy, which she uses in hospitals and nursing homes. She currently is the organist at Kansas City First Church of the Nazarene, sings in the choir, and plays in the church orchestra. Outside of music, Mrs. Block enjoys reading, hiking, zip-lining, yard work, and spending time with her three adult children.
Dr. Kate Choi, Piano
Dr. Kate Choi is an acclaimed musician, accompanist, and composer. Dr. Choi has played many solo recitals and concertos with the DK Orchestra in South Korea, and KU Symphony Orchestra at the Lied Center. She performed as a member of Orenunn contemporary trio in NJ, Seoul, and Bangkok. Dr. Choi has been active in numerous master classes and music festivals in Aspen, Chautauqua, and summer music schools in France. She holds a DMA from KU and MM from UMKC. Kate is a member of MTAC and has over 20 years of teaching experience. She joined SCA as a Virtuosity! teacher in 2020 after moving from Southern California. She has three children.
Elizabeth Martin, Violin and Viola
Elizabeth Martin, a native of Kansas City, began playing violin at a young age and quickly developed a love for music. Elizabeth attended the UMKC Conservatory of Music for two years, where she studied violin performance under Joseph Genualdi. Elizabeth later attended Bob Jones University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in music, studying under Dr. Brandon Ironside. Elizabeth has been a part of community orchestras and small instrumental ensembles for a number of years and regularly collaborates with other musicians in the community. During 2018-2019, Elizabeth traveled with the Frazor Evangelistic Team, performing sacred music in churches across United States and around the world. Elizabeth enjoys performing for weddings and special occasions and is involved with the music ministry at her local church. Elizabeth is passionate about instilling a love of music in students of all ages through quality, creative, and enjoyable violin instruction and is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Virtuosity! program at SCA. Elizabeth and her husband reside in Lee’s Summit and enjoy spending time with family and friends and serving at their local church.
Natalie Meyer, Worship Teams, Beginning Piano and Voice
Mrs. Meyer is thrilled to be joining the Virtuosity! program this year. She and her husband are blessed with four children, two of whom currently attend SCA. She brings over 20 years of experience in teaching piano, and holds two associate degrees. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in secondary education. Mrs. Meyer was a worship leader at Campus Bible Church in California and oversaw over 30 different band members. In 2020, she graduated from the California Psalmist Mission cohort, a distinguished program that provides comprehensive training in various aspects of music including instrumental and vocal technique, music theory, sight reading, and ear training, along with production and performance skills. Additionally, she completed the Ministry Leadership Certificate Program through Venture Church Network at Western Seminary in 2021. In 2022, she relocated to Missouri from California to be closer to family following her husband's diagnosis of leukemia in 2021. By the grace of God, he is now in remission and doing well. God has been so good and her family is blessed to be a part of SCA.
Joy Parke, Piano
Music has been a part of Mrs. Parke’s life for as long as she can remember. She learned to play piano, violin, and flute as a child and was involved in school band, choir, and high school musicals. She studied piano and voice in college and completed her bachelor's degree in music education. In the spring of 2022, Mrs. Parke completed a master of arts in music with a piano pedagogy (teaching) focus from the University of Central Missouri. She has taught private piano lessons for approximately 20 years. Mrs. Parke is thankful for the opportunity to teach piano at SCA. It is a joy for her to work one-on-one with the students and to see their progress in piano as well as their growth as individuals. She has been married to Phil Parke for 34 years, and they have three sons, one daughter, two daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren. Mrs. Parke also sings and plays piano on the worship team at her church, KC First Church of the Nazarene, and assists her husband Phil with the church’s teen Bible quizzing program.
Dave Sager, Percussion and Drum Set
Mr. Sager is a Kansas City native and has been playing drums since the fifth grade. His formal education includes a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music Performance, both from the UMKC Conservatory of Music. He has performed with the Kansas City Symphony, St. Joseph Symphony, Lee’s Summit Symphony, Kansas City Wind Symphony, and the UMKC Percussion Ensemble. Mr. Sager is currently the principle timpanist for the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS. He is on the Board of Directors and past-president of the Mid-America Music Association. Mr. Sager also maintains a private studio and performs in local professional groups. He has been teaching for 30+ years and enjoys inspiring percussionists of all ages.
Dr. Stephen Scheperle, Guitar
Dr. Scheperle is from Jefferson City, Missouri, and came to SCA in 2021. He teaches 11th and 12th grade Bible, and serves as the Bible Department Chair and the SCA Chapel Coordinator. He has a minor in church music and has served as the staff pastor over worship at two churches. He formally studied guitar as part of his church music minor, has been playing for nearly thirty years, and has enjoyed teaching lessons to students of various ages and abilities. He especially values helping students who aspire to use their growing guitar skills in church worship.
Haven Stone, Piano
Haven Stone is an SCA alumna and is thrilled to be coming back to SCA as a piano teacher for the Virtuosity! program. Haven has been playing piano since she was nine years old and music has played a very influential role in her life. She has been involved in theatre, choir, countless recitals, and a couple of worship teams throughout her life. She graduated from MCC with an Associate of Arts degree and is currently studying and deepening her knowledge about music and worship under the worship leaders at her church. She sings and plays piano and is using these skills to serve as one of the worship leaders for the youth ministry of her church. Haven also teaches private piano lessons out of her home. Christ is her biggest passion and being able to glorify Him through her music/worship and teach others to do the same is her favorite thing to do! She loves teaching young students to truly love music and to love using music to glorify Christ.
Dr. Greg Turner, Voice and Piano
Dr. Turner joined the SCA faculty in 2018. He has a D.A. in Music and an M.A. in Music/English from Ball State University and a B.A. in Music/English Education from Indiana Wesleyan University. He began his career teaching junior high (7-9) music and English at Santa Barbara Christian School (CA). Since then, he has taught music in public schools in Nebraska and Wisconsin. Prior to coming to SCA, He was the division chair for humanities and fine arts at Fort Scott Community College (KS), teaching music and English. He is the music director (choir director and organist) at First Presbyterian Fort Scott (KS). He and his wife Emily have been married 50 years and they have four daughters and nine grandchildren.
Ben White, Guitar
Mr. White is a Kansas City native musician. Growing up with a musical family, he played several different instruments growing up. Starting with the viola to the guitar, bass, piano, and the trombone. After high school, he attended the conservatory at UMKC. He now also teaches elementary music in the classroom at SCA. Mr. White and his wife Laura live in Midtown Kansas City with their Labradoodle Matisse.
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